One of the things I love most about travel is that some of its main characteristics are similar to circumstances we encounter in everyday life. The essence of travel, and the attraction of it, are its unpredictable nature – just like many things in life are unpredictable. When I leave home on yet another trip, I look forward to what will cross my path. I feel excited or even elated, or if I’m traveling to a risky place, I may feel a little anxious. But wherever I go, I feel very alive. People often ask me if I’m not afraid or insane to travel to countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, or (recently) Ukraine. The answer is: afraid: not. Insane, well, that’s up to someone else to decide.
This doesn’t mean I don’t understand there is a risk involved. What’s more, travel inherently involves risks. The thing is, I believe we (in the West) have become too risk-averse. We take insurance against almost anything that might possibly happen. We expect things to go without a glitch. Many want all-inclusive packages, thinking that this will ensure a smooth experience. Admittedly, there is quite a gap between an all-inclusive beach vacation and traveling around Afghanistan. I am not at all suggesting that everyone should book the next available flight to Kabul, Mogadishu, or Baghdad. I do believe, however, it is important to find a way to challenge yourself to take a risk while making sure that you don’t feel too uncomfortable while going for it.
Let’s face it, a guarantee that nothing will happen simply doesn’t exist wherever you travel. Your cruise ship still might have an accident. Your flight might be canceled. Your hotel might not be the one you envisioned when you booked it. You might meet someone who will try to con you. In the end, fate decides how your journey is going to end. Long before you set off on your trip, it decides where you are born, who your parents are, and where you grow up. These things are beyond your control. I believe it greatly helps us to accept that while we can influence fate and try to steer life in a certain direction, things might still happen differently. You simply cannot control everything.
This is precisely what I love about travel. Adventure doesn’t exist without taking risks. And it makes life worth it. How would we ever dare to ask that beautiful woman or guy out for dinner, how would we land that dream job, how would inventions be made if we were not willing to take that step into the void? To venture into uncharted territory, to take a leap of faith? To pursue our dream? Columbus nailed it when he said, “You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” More often than not, this courage is rewarded by adventure, by that great job, by a yummy dinner, and – who knows – a flowering relationship with that lady or man.
The secret lies in a belief in your guardian angels. I lived through so many adventures where things went right that could have gone wrong, and I often wondered afterward if I had some guardian angels traveling with me on my shoulders, protecting me. You also need to accept that Lady Luck has the last word. I always come prepared, I am alert, and I try to minimize risks. Still, sometimes things just take a different turn and you can end up being unlucky.
As long as you don’t dive into situations like a headless chicken, there is often much less than you might think that can go wrong. Have confidence in a good outcome, and accept that sometimes things will work out differently from what you had in mind.
I am confident that you can achieve much more and live more happily when you dare to risk. Although I have been in situations where the outcome was not at all clear beforehand, and things could have gone wrong countless times, my adventures have rarely landed me in trouble. I have lived so many unforgettable adventures during my travels, it feels like an immense wealth that I will cherish for the rest of my life while I continue to add yet more adventures to it.
Let go of your fear, follow your heart, be kind to and trust your guardian angels, and be surprised and thankful for how life rewards you for it.
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Boris Kester is an author, fearless adventurer, senior purser, polyglot, avid sportsman, programmer, and political scientist. He is one of about 250 people worldwide to have traveled to every country in the world. According to the authoritative travel site nomadmania.com, Boris ranks among the best-traveled people on the planet. He is the author of The Long Road to Cullaville: Stories from my travels to every country in the World. He shares his travel photos and stories on traveladventures.org. Learn more at boriskester.com
By Boris Kester
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